To investigate the effect of Cassia fistula powder on the growth performance and health of broiler

Cassia fistula is an ornamental plant which is belong from family Fabaceae family known as” Golden Rain Tree” which have medicinal and nutritive values. The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of Cassia fistula on the growth performance and health of broilers. One hundred eighty (180) day old broiler chicks were purchased from local hatchery and divided into the six groups, i.e., group A (commercial diet), group B (basal diet) were control, group C (Basal diet with Cassia fistula powder 250 mg/kg in starter phase), group D (basal diet with Cassia fistula powder 250 mg/kg in finisher phase), group E (commercial diet with Cassia fistula 250 mg/kg in starter phase) and group F (commercial diet with Cassia fistula 250 mg/kg in finisher phase) respectively. The result showed significant difference in weight gain (2036.7g, 1997.7g, 2263.3g, 2161.3g, 2342.3g and 2193.3g), feed intake (4451.3g, 4201.7g, 4182.3g, 3836.7g, 3942.7g and 4368.3g) and FCR (2.16, 2.06, 1.83, 1.76, 1.63 and 1.96) was recorded in group A, B, C, D, E, and F respectively. A non-significant difference in dressing% (61.77%, 64.15%, 63.43%, 63.38%, 66.47% and 65.94%) was recorded in group A, B, C, D, E and F respectively. Additionally, a non-significant difference in mortality %(4%, 2%, 3.3%, 2.6%, 0.3% and 1.6%) and visceral organ such as relative weight of heart (0.65%, 0.62%, 0.58%, 0.58, 0.57% and 0.59%), spleen (0.08%, 0.08%, 0.07%, 0.07%, 0.06% and

0.06%) was recorded in group A, B, C, D, E, and F respectively. Thus, it is concluded that Cassia fistula @ 250 mg/kg with commercial diet (group-E) supplementation in broiler ration showed optimum results in terms of body weight gain, Feed intake, FCR, dressing (%) and it has preventive properties. Keywords: Broiler; Cassia Fistula; Growth performance; Health Introduction Cassia fistula is an ornamental plant which is belong from family Fabaceae known as" Golden Rain Tree" which have medicinal and nutritive values. Moreover, it is enriched with variety of naturally occurring bioactive compounds, which are larger extent secondary metabolite and being incorporated in medicines, food supplements and in miscellaneous commercial products [1] The chemical composition of Cassia fistula contains alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, anthraquinone, terpenes, sugars, glucosides and biological active compounds 5nonatetracontanone, 2-hentriacontane, triacontane, hentriacontanol and sitosterol (Antibacterial). It has been reported that tannins which are naturally occurring and water-soluble phenolic compounds and help in protein precipitation from aqueous media are abundantly present in Cassia fistula [2]. Moreover, it has indicated that Cassia fistula has abundant glycosides that are used to boost the cardiac contractile force in patient with pulmonary hypertension and have significant effects in the cancer therapy [3] Health of broiler is extremely important which play significant role for the better growth performance and digestion.  [11] It has been examined that feed which is contaminated with fungus cause mortality and morbidity in broiler, when Cassia fistula was used in feed resulted in reduced fungal contamination because of its antifungal property and hence increased growth performance of birds [7] It has been observed that helminths have negative effect upon growth performance due to destruction of gastro intestinal tract, which leads to reduced digestibility of broiler. It has been reported that methanolic extract of Cassia fistula fruit pulp and seeds showed significant anthelmintic activity. The extract paralyzed and killed the worms in a very short time at dose of 100 mg/ml [12]. Moreover, plant is used as curative agent in the therapy of hypercholesterolemia particularly their fiber and mucilage content [14]. Antioxidant activity of Cassia fistula is correlated with polyphenolic content of pulp, flower, leaves and stem bark [15] Chemical composition of fresh leaves contains: crude protein 18g, crude fiber 30g, Ash 8g, ether extracts 8g and nitrogen free extract 37g. The detailed biochemical analysis of flowers pollen is composed of 12% protein, 11.75% carbohydrate, 12% lipid and 1.42% free amino acid [16]. It was concluded that the fruit of Cassia fistula is of high quality and could be explored to fulfill the nutrient and requirements that are necessary for broiler because it contain enough amount of macro and micro nutrient which enhanced the growth performance of broiler [17]. It has been reported that Cassia fistula meal are used as a replacement of soya bean meal in diets, from the result of their study, it was revealed that the nutrient utilization and growth performance of animals fed up to 170g/kg of Cassia fistula seed as a meal could be substituted for soya bean meal in practical diets without expressing growth [18]. The objectives of present study was to identify the effect of medicinal plant, Cassia fistula on the growth performance, feed efficiency and health of commercial broiler chicken which will be beneficial for the poultry industry.

Materials and Methods
One hundred eighty (180) day old chicks were bought from commercial hatchery and taken to Poultry Research Station, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam. Experimental design Cassia fistula powder was purchased from folk medicine store Hyderabad. Birds were divided into six groups with 3 replicates, each replicate contain 10 chicks. However, group A and B were control, Group A fed with commercial diet. Group C was supplemented with Cassia fistula powder at the dose of 250 mg/kg in basal diet in starter phase. Group D was supplemented with Cassia fistula powder at the dose of 250 mg/kg in basal diet in finisher phase. Group E was supplemented with Cassia fistula powder at the dose of 250 mg/kg in commercial diet in starter phase. Group F was supplemented with Cassia fistula at the dose of 250 mg/kg in commercial diet in finisher phase. Moreover, the fresh water was provided ad libitum and feeding program was consist of a two phases starter diet (0-21 days) and finisher diet (22-42 days).

Housing management
The poultry house was entirely cleaned, washed and sanitized. The birds were kept on deep litter housing system. Temperature was maintained around 95°F at first week and then temperature was gradually reduced by 5°F per week until it reached around 70°F. Relative humidity was maintained around 55 to 65 percent in the shed. Pen of birds was set according to standard values. Moreover, the bedding material rice husk was used as a litter 2-4 inches for each group of broilers. Litter was turned once a day for minimizing the gas production from the shed. and assured for expectation through maintenance of proper ventilation

Vaccination program
The following vaccination program were adopting according to the recommendation of Poultry Department Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam.

Weight of non-edible organs
At the end of trail, the three broilers were slaughtered from each group, the following organs such as heart and spleen were removed with the help of scalpel and scissor and weighed by electric weighing balance to see the effect of cassia fistula on these non-edible organs.

Data analysis
The final data was analyzed through the statistical tool, Analysis of variance (ANOVA) the level of significance at a = 0.05. Moreover, the significance difference was noticed among the means of all groups then least significance difference (L.S.D) was done by using a standard statistical computer package `Statistixver` 8.1.

Results
Supplement of Cassia fistula in different groups was examined and statistical outcomes of the obtained data are presented given below.

Feed intake (g/b)
The result shows that, the highest values for feed intake (4451.3±125.09 g/b) was calculated from the birds reared in group-A, F (4368.3±175.57 g/b), B (4201.7±136.18 g/b), C (4182.3±55.54 g/b) and E (3942.7±188.7 g/b) respectively. Lowest value of feed intake (3836.7±77.90 g/b) was noted in D group. Moreover, significant (p<0.05) variation in feed intake was noticed among group (A, F) and (D, E,). While, (B and C) and (E and F) were non-significantly different from one another (Fig. 2).

Feed conversion ratio (FCR)
The result shows that, comparatively better FCR (1.6333±0.03) was calculated from the birds reared in group-E than F (1.9667±0.06 g/b), C (1.8333±0.03) and D (1.7667±0.08 g/b), correspondingly. Poor FCR was obtained from group A and B (2.1667±0.03 and 2.0667±0.12). A significant (p<0.05) variation in FCR was noticed for group (A, B) with (C, D, E and F). While, (A, B) and (C and F) group were non-significantly different from each another (Fig. 3).

Figure 2. Effect of Cassia fistula supplementation on feed intake (g/b)
abc superscripts showed p-value= 0.0017 significance difference at (P<0.05)

Relative weight of heart (%)
The result shows that, the highest values for relative weight of heart (0.6531±0.22%) was calculated from the birds reared in group-A than B (0.6298±0.01%), F (0.5928±0.01%), D (0.5892±0.01%) and C (0.5889±0.01%), correspondingly. Lowest value of relative weight of heart (0.5793±0.01%) was noted in E group. A significant (p<0.05) variation in relative weight of heart was noticed for group (A and B). While, group (C, D, E and F) was non-significantly different from one another (Fig. 6).

Discussion
In current study, birds supplemented with Cassia fistula in commercial diet at starter phase resulted highest weight gain in comparison to control group. Our findings are agreement with [3], who stated that herbs possess the biological activities which have growth stimulating effect in broilers, thus herbs can be used as feed additive and as a growth promoter. However, the feed additives are non-nutritive substances which are used in the poultry feed such as antioxidant, enzymes, pellet binders, flavoring agent and antibiotics which are beneficial for the growth rate of broilers  [13] reported that supplementation of herbs as a feed additive resulted in better FCR. Moreover, the feed conversion ratio improved due to the increased absorption of nutrients and better digestion [13]. Dressing percentage In addition to this our results indicated birds supplemented with Cassia fistula resulted highest dressing percentage in comparison with birds without Cassia fistula. Our current results are in agreement with [14] who reported that no significant difference in dressing percentage was observed when Cassia fistula leaf meal was supplemented to broiler. Our findings are also in line with [15], who reported that dressing percentage is related with weight, whenever weight is increased the carcass percentage also increases. Furthermore, present results are in accordance with [4] who reported that Cassia fistula when incorporated in broiler feedings has positive effect on dressing percentages.

Mortality percentage
Our results indicated that birds without Cassia fistula supplementation resulted higher mortality percentage in comparison with birds supplemented with Cassia fistula. Thus, our results are in agreement with [16], who reported that it has positive effect on growth performance by decreasing the mortality rate as Cassia fistula possessed the diverse biological activity such as antiinflammatory, antipyretic, laxative and useful in skin diseases, gouty arthritis, ulcers, carbuncles, intermittent fever, boils rheumatologic and antimicrobial activity which collectively decreases mortality rate in broilers. Our findings are also in agreement with [16], who reported that Cassia fistula has immense biological properties which have positive effect on growth performance that decreases mortality rate and improves digestibility and its root is prescribed as a tonic, astringent and strong purgative.

Relative weight of organs (%)
We have also reported that there is marked difference in the relative weight of heart and spleen after feeding. Our present findings are in partially agreement with [17], who reported no significant difference in the relative weight of internal organs of birds which were fed with different levels of supplementation of Cassia leaves in diet. Thus, our findings are in similarity with [18] who reported that feeding the Cassia fistula have positive effect on, heart and spleen of broiler, but no effect was observed in liver and gizzard weight.

Conclusion
It was concluded that Cassia fistula @ 250 mg/kg (group-E) supplementation in broiler ration showed optimum results in terms of growth performance and health of commercial broiler such as Weight gain, Feed intake, Feed conversion ratio (FCR), Dressing %, Mortality (%) and weight of non-edible organ.